CAP 232s Grounded

ANN has learned that an Emergency AD issued by Generale De L’Aviation Civile (France) was prompted by the tragic loss of French aerobatic pilot Jean-Michel Delorme, who passed away August 30th when his CAP 232 lost a wing during the French aerobatic championship. A talented aerobatic competitor, Delorme (pictured below) left a wife and a 20-month old baby girl.

A member of the French Air Force Aerobatic Team (EVAA), the EVAA said that, "...Thursday the 30th of August, at around 19:00, a CAP 232 which was taking part in the French championship of aerobatics (single-seat plane) crashed in Saint Yan. The pilot, captain Jean-Michel Delorme, the most qualified pilot of the French Air Force aerobatics team (EVAA) and first at the last France's championship, died in crash.

The French Air Force has lost a famous and smart pilot of military aerobatics and conveys its warmest sympathy to captain Delorme's family. The aircraft crashed in a clear area with no inhabitants.

The investigation conducted by the French Defence investigation board (BEAD) and Macon Court of Justice shall determined the causes of the accident.

EMERGENCY AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE (EAD) PUBLISHED BY DIRECTION GENERALE DE L’AVIATION CIVILE (FRANCE) ACCORDING TO ARTICLE 10.1 OF EUROPEAN UNION REGULATION 1592/2002. THIS TEXT IS NOT SENT TO FOREIGN OPERATORS OF AIRCRAFT NOT REGISTERED IN FRANCE. IT IS UP TO THE NATIONAL AUTHORITIES TO FORWARD IT TO THEM ON RECEIPT.

No UF-2005-156 – APEX AIRCRAFT – CAP230, CAP231, CAP231EX, CAP232 aircraft (ATA 53, 57)

SUBJECT: Grounding.

1. EFFECTIVITY: This Emergency Airworthiness Directive (EAD) concerns the following aircraft : CAP 230, CAP 231, CAP 231 EX and CAP 232 aircraft, all serial numbers.

2. REASON: This EAD is issued following a fracture in flight that has occurred to a CAP 232 aircraft during the French aerobatics Championship in Saint-Yan.

3. MANDATORY ACTIONS AND COMPLIANCE TIMES: The following conservative action is taken in accordance with the Type Certificate Holder Apex Aircraft, while waiting for the investigation results. At the effective date of this EAD, the concerned airplanes are grounded. A ferry flight to the aircraft base or to a workshop is nonetheless authorized.

4. REFERENCE PUBLICATION: None.

5. EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon receipt, from August 31, 2005

FMI: www.france-voltige.org/Docs/CNU_UF-2005-156.PDF